Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Get" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "get", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
こんがらがる
こんがらがる (kongaragaru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
罷り通る
まかりとおる (makaritōru)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "get" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between こんがらがる and 罷り通る.
In Japanese, こんがらがる (こんがらがる (kongaragaru)) is typically associated with "to get entangled, to get complicated, to get confused" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Describes something becoming tangled.
On the other hand, 罷り通る (まかりとおる (makaritōru)) maps to "to get away with (something), to be accepted (unjustly/despite flaws), to go unchallenged" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Often used in a somewhat critical or exasperated tone, describing a situation where something illogical, unfair, or incorrect is accepted or allowed to happen without proper challenge. It can also mean that something. A literal translation of "get" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "こんがらがる"
複雑な指示で頭が__こんがらがって__しまった。
My head got all confused with the complicated instructions.
Bilingual Context for "罷り通る"
この会社では、不正な経費申請が罷り通っているらしい。
It seems that fraudulent expense claims are going unchallenged in this company.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "複雑な指示で頭が__こんがらがって__しまった。" (Meaning: "My head got all confused with the complicated instructions.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "こんがらがる" fits here because it means "to get entangled, to get complicated, to get confused" in the context of: "My head got all confused with the complicated instructions.". "罷り通る" represents "to get away with (something), to be accepted (unjustly/despite flaws), to go unchallenged".